música do círculo
música do círculo (MdC) is a practice created by 3 brazilians who later on founded an institute by the same name. it's a collective practice of improvised music-making and human connection, without the use of any instruments (i.e. body music) and for people of all levels of experience. it works by integrating 8 major elements, being them: improvisation, games, non-verbal communication, the circle, body music, contact, movement and flow.
the facilitators (also called conductors) propose several games throughout the practice exploring these different elements in different ways each time, while also encouraging and creating a safe space for the creative expression, experimentation and proposition by the group itself.
it's a crazy psycho-spiritual, physical, musical and relational practice that i discovered in june 2023 and since then have been to a retreat (7 days doing this 6h+ a day), 50+ sessions with a smaller group in são paulo and i intend to do the 2-year-long facilitator training starting on august 2024.
the field of deep listening it creates help us very quickly tap into the collective intelligence of the group, facilitating the emergence of whatever is alive in each of us and connecting us with deeper layers of our musical intelligence and self-expression. the barrier for entry is super low, you really don't have to "be an artist", "know how to sing", or any of that. you just need to be willing to play.
the founders are also crazy deep thinking and inclusive artists, always exploring fun and unconventional ways of learning/creating together.
the 3 major references that inspired the development of the practice are: barbatuques (fernando barba/stênio mendes' body percussion/improvisation games), bobby mcferrin (circlesongs, vocal improvisation) and pedagogia da cooperação.
the sessions are usually 1h30-long, and though there's some content posted online the experience of watching them (or even understanding what the practice is, as i just described) vs participating is completely different. i highly recommend you join one session to experience its magic before watching it/researching too much about it.
it seems to me that it's easier to experience the flow/magic it creates that way. later on we can learn about the alchemical rules and procedures guiding it. :)
if you're curious anyway, below are a few recordings i liked:
https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18017605172249078/
+ they also have a really cool card deck which condenses the methodology, breaking it down into 8 games, 8 elements and 8 spatial formations:
related: metamodern music, body music, vocal improvisation, beatbox...
mdc as a post-tragic practice, in the sense of trauma - recognizing the first and second shocks of existence. being aware of their unfoldment - how they live in us and how we inflict upon/affect others. a reminiscing sense of lost innocence but reclaimed playfulness.
cultivating a post-collapse way of interbeing. based on community, trust, vulnerability...